Dude retired at 33.

C-dog

Oh no, I'm not. Dont think I'd have the patience. LOL.

My day and holidays would most likely be dictated by our soon to be due baby.

ChesterDog

Just for info, I retired at 43 with cash and investments somewhere around £800k; actually to care for my wife who has a progressive illness.

Ten years on, we live comfortably, have modest tastes but have financial freedom thanks to investments.

We have increased our non-cash/investment assets (bigger house with all sorts of disability equipment), but maintained roughly that original cash figure. This should now increase as much capital expenditure is now done.

Admittedly, included in our income is around £10k of disability-related benefits, but these are largely soaked up by my wife's requirements in those very respects.

115K

I have become very obsessive about checking our finances, I calculate our net worth at least once a month which is really unnecessary.:o

C-dog wrote: »

9pm-9.03pm - Sexytime.

:rotfl:

bugbyte_2

Chesterdog - As you are a carer that is a very worth while thing to do and gives purpose and meaning to your life. It is a world away from sitting on your backside when your highlight of the day is watching 'Adventure Time' on Netflix. I personally would not class what you do as retirement.

Jonbvn

I remember working with a guy who was massively zealous in becoming FI. He literally tracked every penny he spent & earned on a spreadsheet.

There was however one massive issue. His wife. She became very unhappy with his OC attitude and left him for another guy.

blizeH

bugbyte wrote: »

People actually need a work structure and to be useful to be happy. I cannot think of anything worse than retiring at 33.

I can assure you that not everyone feels the same way.

Also, the beauty of being financially independent is that you don't have to stay retired. If you want to write a book you can. If you want to start a blog you can. If you want to learn how to program and make an app or a video game you can. You are completely your own boss, with no one to answer to (not even most self employed people can say this) - plus there's nothing stopping you from getting a job again if you really do miss it.

Radiantsoul

Jonbvn wrote: »

There was however one massive issue. His wife. She became very unhappy with his OC attitude and left him for another guy.

I guess he regarded the saving of anniversary and birthday presents as a positive.

somethingcorporate

Jonbvn wrote: »

I remember working with a guy who was massively zealous in becoming FI. He literally tracked every penny he spent & earned on a spreadsheet.

There was however one massive issue. His wife. She became very unhappy with his OC attitude and left him for another guy.

That'll reduce some of his expenses then!!

Ryan_Futuristics

C-dog wrote: »

Ok yep, I 100% understand bugbyte. I am pretty much the same, checking share prices each day. I think its best I check only when I can make a purchase - £3k+ cash.

I'm very fortunate that I don't have to track every expense, but I do maintain a small budget based on an amount I put in my wallet each week.

Ryan that sounds like hell. Well 1 day a week on netflix maybe...

I see my average day in FI as such

8.30 - Cycle to School with Tarquin or Talulah (we don't know if its boy or girl yet)
9.00 - Gym
10.30 - 1pm - Hobby or Work
1-2 Lunch with wife
2-3 Reading
3pm School run, park and home work
6pm dinner
7pm - bedtime stories
9pm-9.03pm - Sexytime.
Sleep

Change 9-3 accordingly if we decide to go surfing, go into town, or another activity.

What about the summer months? Well how about 2 months travel or moving to France a la every teacher I've ever known. The world is our oyster

If I was near enough to the coast to go surfing - and had kids on the way - I could certainly see myself settling into that lifestyle

But ... with friends who've done similar, you find there often comes a point (perhaps when their kids have started to get a bit more independent) when you see them starting hobby businesses or resurrecting old bands they used to be in

I always think of it as the 'bar test' ... When you're introduced to someone in a bar, how do you define yourself? Are you still interesting and relevant? ... In Chelsea there's a whole demographic whose whole existence is nice restaurants and going to the Bahamas, and I swear there's only a certain length of time that kind of lifestyle's healthy

Radiantsoul

If it was easy to save up enough to retire in a few years then everyone would be doing it.

A lot of these extreme early retirement folks seem to have very high incomes at the start of their career, and then move into financial blogging. Also it is hard to tell if they have inherited wealth or trust funds. It is probably not in their interest to disclose this!

I haven't personally meet many people in my life who are retired in their mid 30s which leads me to suspect that it is either very hard to achieve and/or it is not something most people are prepared to make the sacrifices to achieve.

People have different preferences, but if I found myself just out of university and in a job I hated I would change job/career. I have met lots of people who have done this.